Decided to go crazy after I finished my paper. Even though I can't play drums in my apartment, setting them up in new ways is always fun too. So I pulled out all the stops tonight: (I decided to go for the Jojo set-up with the small tom after the floor tom after everything else was put where it was)

I wish that finish would have been available when I got mine. I like it much better than the Natural Wood. Naturally, it came out right after I got them - ha ha.

I also would have preferred a shallower depth (14") on my 20" bass. 17" is OK, but it seems an odd way to go.
Yamaha is strange that way. My 18" bass drums are 15" deep.

Anyways - an all around nice looking setup. Have you tried putting the 10" tom in the 'normal' position? Or does that just not sit right with you.

Thanks! That's usually how things happen. But the way of the world will come back around in your favor eventually. It always does. =]

The first three pictures at the top of the thread feature the 10" in the 'normal' position. I don't think I'd ever do this for a gig. Maybe I'd mess around with that kind of set-up in a rehearsal room or something, but I like a standard one-up, one-down or one-up, two-down set up. I can't wait for the 16".

Oops - my mistake. I thought you got the 5 piece kit with 10" and 12" mounted toms, and that it was the 12" in the first 3 pics, with a funny lens on your camera or something - ha ha.

I've only ever seen Stage Customs being sold new as 5 piece around here. Except for the 4 piece Bop kit with 18" kick of course.

Did you buy it piece by piece, or set up as a kit that way?

I bought the 5 piece with 10RT, 12RT, 14RT, 20BD, and the snare drum (traded the snare drum back for store credit) and then I ordered a 16" Floor Tom which is on the way. Should be here next week. I do different set-ups for the different bands or venues I play in, so I need options..

When I ordered these drums, my boss put in an order for the natural finish by mistake, which in my opinion is not that great looking on the Stage Customs. The grain looks so cheap and unnatural. So when they got into the shop, I told him he messed up, and to avoid having to order again, he tried to convince me to take those, but I explained to him how much of a difference there was in the finishes. When these came in, he totally took back his attempts to get me keep the original ones.

I'm a Tama guy, but I have so much respect for Yamaha as a company. They just put out such great products at great prices.
Those drums look sweet, and if Yamaha is the company I think they are, they probably sound even sweeter!

Do you play traditional grip, but holding the sticks waaaaay back, pretty much at the base? Just like a certain... K.C.?

I've tried practicing and even jamming live that way, but I don't have enough control of the stick. I do like playin traditional grip sometimes, but my left hand is a little further up on the stick. I did start holding the stick in my right hand like him though. It's very comfortable and I can pull off a lot more.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wy yung

He's gonna have to sell this Yamaha kit and buy a Gretsch Brooklyn kit. :-)

Funny you should say that. Two of my favorite drummers are Carlock and Questlove (see username), but I didn't go with Yamaha because they played Yamaha. I got it because they were the best drums and the best price for the configuration I wanted. Not long after I put my order in for the kit, Keith went to Gretsch and Quest went to Ludwig. All the guys at work were joking, saying I need to cancel my order now. Haha

Are you going to leave your tom mounts upside down like you have them in the last pics?
Looks like you've got them nice and flat mounted like that.

I'd have a rough time playing your kit. The jumps from snare to mounted tom, and mounted tom to floor tom are a lot larger than I'm used to. I'd probably be hitting sticks on rims a lot - ha ha.

No, definitely not. It's tough to play like that. I usually keep the snare drum parallel with the ground and the rack tom rim about an inch away from that of the snare, slanted up and away from me. Not too much, but enough to where I can keep my posture straight and everything is easy and comfortable.

Very nice, saw one same color last week in store..Looks even better in person. I had a stage custom but it was an older one with the mixed woods..great kit but not exactly what I wanted.. I would love to have an all Birch model though..

Did you try the stock bass drum resonant head for a while before you put the ported one on?
Mine has a large amount of kickback on the pedal even though I don't have it tuned real tight.
I think there must be some really tight tolerances on these drums, or the air vent isn't large enough or something.
Seems like air can't escape, build up pressure and pushes back on the pedal. That's what it feels like anyways. I'm getting pretty used to it though.

Did you try the stock bass drum resonant head for a while before you put the ported one on?
Mine has a large amount of kickback on the pedal even though I don't have it tuned real tight.
I think there must be some really tight tolerances on these drums, or the air vent isn't large enough or something.
Seems like air can't escape, build up pressure and pushes back on the pedal. That's what it feels like anyways. I'm getting pretty used to it though.

It felt fine with both heads. I needed some more punch and clarity since I was playing unmic'd a lot. It doesn't feel much different now, as far as I can tell. I've only played one gig since changing it though and I wasn't paying much attention. I'll feel it out next time I can take the drums out and really play them.